Picture the scene: you've just purchased a brand-new log burner, or perhaps you've just constructed a stone and masonry BBQ or Pizza Oven, and you're all ready to cook up some gorgeous grub. You're perhaps thinking to yourself, "Can I burn any wood?" Well, here is the answer...

There are some very important reasons to use the correct fuel for your log burner, especially when you have shelled out your hard earned money - so make sure you get it right!

We've teamed up with Manchester Firewood Supplies, and they've given us a whole wealth of knowledge to help ensure you choose the right logs for your burner - and why kiln dried logs are the way to go!

Recently cut or ‘Green’ logs are a very poor source of energy, they are difficult to light, and produce a lot of smoke when burning due to their high moisture content, especially when cut in summer when the sap has risen in the timber. This will cause creosote to build up in the flue pipe and cause damage to the chimney. In extreme cases, this can cause chimney fires.

When you try to burn wet firewood, most of the energy released is used to evaporate the water and is wasted, rendering the process pointless if the aim is to efficiently heat your home!

The government is also making changes in legislation that will mean users of wood burners won’t be able to buy house coal or wet wood. Selling small quantities of wet firewood to retail customers was phased out in February 2021 and the sale of house coal was stopped. It’s worth noting that this currently applies to England only. You can read more about PM2.5 legislation here.

Manchester Firewood Supplies are a company with strong environmental concerns, they are in support of any government action to reduce carbon emissions.

It is easy to feel powerless to help in this regard, but you can do by using firewood to heat your house in the cold parts of the year, therefore using less fossil fuels which have a much larger carbon footprint.

Why Use Kiln Dried Firewood?

Quality dry firewood is ‘carbon lean’. This means that each tree absorbs the same amount of carbon dioxide when growing as it releases when burned. When a woodland is managed sustainably, new tree growth will be absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide, offsetting that released by the fuel produced from the wood. The overall contribution to atmospheric CO2 levels is minimal.

The temperature of 70 degrees centigrade achieved in the kiln drying process sterilises the logs, and removes any traces of wood boring insects.

If you burn your kiln dried wood properly, timber is a renewable carbon-neutral source of energy, and in our opinion the best way to heat a modern home with that cosy primal spark that is ignited in us all.

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For more buying guides, information and advice, read the Direct Stoves blog

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